(Photo credit score: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images)
Down 5-0 within the first set in opposition to former champion and No. 8 seed Iga Swiatek of Poland, it appeared Qinwen Zheng’s Cinderella run by the U.S. Open was coming to an finish.
But the magic continued because the lengthy shot from China rallied to turn out to be the primary qualifier to succeed in the U.S. Open quarterfinals since Great Britain’s Emma Raducanu in 2021 with a surprising 7-5, 6-3 upset on Monday in New York.
‘It’s been a protracted, very long time I (have) performed on the middle courtroom. I simply actually respect it to be right here within the (Arthur) Ashe Stadium,’ Zheng stated. ‘I simply focus level by level, and little by little, I begin to play higher tennis, I begin to discover my sport. And in a single second, I even forgot the rating within the first set at 4-5. That reveals how I’m centered.’
Zheng, 23, was the fourth-ranked participant on the earth in June of 2025 earlier than an prolonged absence following proper elbow surgical procedure. The downtime left her at No. 121 on the earth rankings coming into the ultimate grand slam occasion of the season and needing to win three qualifying matches to even make the principle draw.
She’s now by to her third profession U.S. Open quarterfinal after beforehand doing so in 2023 and 2024.
After Zheng rallied from down 5-0 to win the third set in opposition to Madison Keys within the third spherical, she once more discovered herself in a gap in opposition to Swiatek.
Zheng misplaced her first two service video games regardless of saving three break factors. A change flipped from there, although, as she received the following seven video games, saving three set factors earlier than changing her first.
The second set was higher balanced, with each gamers sustaining serve by six video games earlier than Zheng received the ultimate three video games, lastly closing out the win on a break of serve whereas on her fourth match level.
Zheng received regardless of a 41% first-serve proportion as a result of she received 83% of her first-serve factors (20 of 24) and performed a cleaner sport. She had 20 winners to 17 unforced errors in comparison with 17 and 28 for Swiatek.
‘More matches I play, extra rhythm I acquired on courtroom,’ Zheng stated. ‘People typically ask me for those who’re drained. I imply, once I arrived right here, I’m not drained in any respect, I simply really feel actually pumped. For my subsequent match, attempting to succeed in higher degree right here, attempting to indicate my tennis and luxuriate in at this unbelievable stadium.’
Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam winner, made only one quarterfinal look in grand slam occasions this 12 months.
Zheng awaits the winner of the Monday evening match between No. 2 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan and No. 13 Naomi Osaka of Japan within the subsequent spherical.
On the opposite aspect of the bracket, No. 5 Mirra Andreeva of Russia held off an upset bid, beating No. 24 Anastasia Potapova of Austria 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 to advance to her first profession U.S. Open quarterfinal.
Andreeva, 19, was damaged to start and conclude the primary set. She overcame eight double faults and over twice as many unforced errors (48) as winners (23) by changing 6 of 10 break factors.
Potapova required medical consideration on her knee after a fall whereas trailing 5-3 within the last set.
‘Seeing what a battle we had, and seeing within the final sport her fall like this, it isn’t straightforward,’ Andreeva stated. ‘It’s not the best way clearly you need to end the match, or to see certainly one of your good associates end the match.
‘I simply informed her that she’s been enjoying wonderful thus far, she’s been having among the best seasons, and I’m certain that she’s going to come back again even stronger as a result of she’s a warrior. I believe she’s even a greater fighter than me.’
Andreeva will face the winner of the all-American Monday match between No. 4 Coco Gauff and No. 14 Iva Jovic for a spot within the semifinals.
–Field Level Media